• Navy Fa 18 Hornet
• Fsx Blue Angels F 18
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Product InformationPublisher:Description: High Detail/Fidelity Carrier Based Fighter.DownloadSize:241 MBFormat:DownloadSimulation Type:FSX SP2Reviewedby:AVSIM Staff Reviewer - August 18, 2010IntroductionThough it lost to the YF-16 in the USAF’s Lightweight Fighter competition, the YF-17 proved itself to be a very good design, and with few modifications became what is the US Navy’s primary carrier based fighter, as well as the main aircraft of numerous foreign air arms, the F/A-18 Hornet. The Hornet, or Bug as it’s often called, was the world’s first true multi-role fighter, which can shift missions from air to air, to a ground attack role with the flip of a switch, hence the F/A (Fighter/Attack) designation. Since the early days, the Hornet’s mission has evolved and expanded to include roles ranging from Fleet Defense to Attack to SEAD/DEAD, and more recently Electronic Warfare/Jamming and Refueling.One of the Hornet’s biggest problems in the early day was its limited range. With two thirsty afterburning engines aboard, the early Hornets had a very low combat radius, even with external tanks, especially when carrying large, heavy and high drag load outs. After nearly twenty years of service and many major model (C/D) and Avionics block upgrades, it was time to refine the Bug. This refinement created the larger and superior E/F models, known as Super Hornets.

The F/A-18E is the single seat version of the Super Hornet, and is the larger version of the C model.To the casual observer they appear to be the same aircraft, but the E model is approximately 30% larger and carries a lot more internal fuel. The easiest way to tell them apart is looking at the shape of the LEX strakes, which are more round on the Super Hornets, or the elevators, which have squared off edges on the E/F models. Another surefire way to determine if you’re looking at a Legacy Hornet as opposed to a Superbug is the round air intakes for the big F414 engines. In an effort to decrease radar cross section, the Superbug features diamond shaped intakes, as well as many jagged edges on landing gear doors and supplemental flight control surfaces. The Kestral's CAG bird loaded up on the ramp at FallonThe Super Hornet has already gone a long way to standardize the Navy’s fleet of aircraft, taking over the roles once held by the A-6, A-7, EA-6B, some retired F/A-18A’s, as well as the legendary F-14.

VRS’s FS2004 version won high praise among the sim community, introducing not only high degrees of systems programming, but also introducing weapons! After a long wait, a completely new model has finally been introduced for FSX, and after some early glitches with the fly by wire system, has come of age as one of, if not the finest fighter aircraft created for FS.Installation, Setup, and DocumentationInstallation came courtesy of a standard auto installer, which was followed by an activation utility.

VRS’s activation provides a few different options, but is self explanatory and well laid out in the manual.Speaking of the manual it is a beast to say the least. The PDF file is well over 200 pages long, and has to rival at least some of the material handed out to real F/A-18E pilots.

In fact, I know that some of it is the exact same, as the NATOPS manual was studied extensively to not only create the Superbug’s flight model, but to also create all the systems to ensure accuracy. As much as I generally like to ignore manuals, this one is a mandatory read, not only to understand the acronym laden language of the Superbug’s cockpit, but to also properly set up the plane and sim settings, which need to be just right to get in the air.In addition to an incredibly detailed and thorough manual, a special tab in the ACM (Aircraft Configuration Manager) also contains a full checklist that is a bit less detailed than the manual, but is easier to go through in a flight setting. Once again VRS does an excellent job, not only covering procedures ranging from startup to shutdown, but also contains information for formation takeoff procedures, carrier procedures, emergency procedures, and many more.The navigation for these complicated documents could not be simpler however, as VRS created a table of contents type graphic based off the real NATOPS pocket checklist with easy access tabs for all sections of the procedure book. Additionally, full conversion charts for TACAN frequencies are covered (in the reference page), as well as an easy access guide to all the keyboard shortcuts the Superbug uses to help keep your head up in the (virtual) cockpit instead of looking down to click buttons and hotspots in the heat of simulated combat.ACM also contains literally hundreds of options for adjusting the Superhornet, with everything from failures of just about every component possible, to visual model adjustments targeted at helping relieve the immense amount of burden put on your computer. Even on a lower setting, the VC is still stunningOverall this VC is absolutely top notch, with the only possible complaints being too detailed (as in it can hurt frame rates) and not enough weathering in some areas, though in fairness that could hinder identification of switches, not to mention military aircraft as a general rule are very well kept.Exterior Model and TexturesAfter inspecting my new virtual office, the exterior of the Superbug was begging for a brief pan-around (the simulated substitute for a walk around preflight) inspection. For my first flight, I took what is probably an uncommon approach for VRS Bug pilots, choosing to forgo weapons and other stores in favor of a clean bird in the perfectly represented VFA-106 Gladiators textures for an attempt at impersonating the Super Hornet Tactical Demonstration, flown by instructors at the two fleet replacement squadrons (VFA-106 in the east, and VFA-122 in the west), both of which I have had the pleasure of seeing at shows on multiple occasions.

I’ll leave the report from my virtual air shows for later, focusing entirely on the stunning visual model that VRS has assembled and provided for us to fly. Pulling up at the end of a canyon runIn short, I could find only a single flaw in the modeling of this aircraft, and that is that the turbine blades in the front section of the F414 engines do not appear to turn when under power, though one has to look pretty hard to notice this.

Navy Fa 18 Hornet

Aside from this apparent flaw, everything else is in order from the tip of the nose cone to the rear of the tailplanes/stabilators and turkey feathers (exhaust petals).Unlike some other aircraft, and very much like the Aerosoft F-16, the VRS Superbug features almost none of the ground clutter type eye candy that often accompanies higher end add-ons, instead with all available polygon resources on making the most faithful 3D representation possible. I found just a few exceptions to this, with the only “ground clutter” on this aircraft being the catapult shuttle and holdback bar that appear when in position and ready to go on the catapult, as well as intake/nozzle covers, as well as a few other remove before flight objects including chocks. The latter only appears once the aircraft is fully powered down after a mission.The F/A-18E is a very unique aircraft, with beautiful lines inherited from its F/A-18 roots. While it may not have the same level of fame and popularity as its swing wing predecessor, the F-14, the Hornet is a very popular aircraft.

As already discussed, the E model shares many common features with the Legacy Hornets, and many of the parts that are not shared are essentially just enlarged versions of the original. The outward canted tails of the early Hornets are not only kept on the E/F models, but are enlarged, as are the leading edge extension strakes.Starting at the nose, the fairings for the center mounted M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon are faithfully reproduced, unlike many lesser F-18 models. Moving back, the smooth transition into the beautiful bubble canopy is accurately reproduced, as are the air data sensors (Pitot tubes, AOA Probe, etc) and forward antennas.

Though I cannot confirm it, the canopy appears to be about the same size as the one on the significantly smaller Legacy hornets, so it looks much smaller on the Super Hornet. Accordingly, the transition from the rear of the canopy to the spine of the fuselage isn’t as smooth as on the older Hornets, but it looks great either way. Ready to go on the ramp at Fallon NASMoving back to the wings and strakes, I have always liked the way the Hornet looks, and VRS definitely captured that essence.

The larger strakes definitely make for a different look, and the larger wing is an important part of what makes the F/A-18E as strong a fighter as it is. Though not quite as maneuverable as the original Hornet, the E model features larger leading edge devices, which are some kind of cross between a flap that changes the shape of the wing, and a leading edge slat that you would find on an airliner. To save space on the decks of aircraft carriers and crowded ramps, the wings fold up to vertical a little over halfway down the span, necessitating a fairing to cover the hinges and hydraulics.Not only is the external aspect of this modeled, but the internal hinges and inner workings of the wing fold are modeled too. The trailing edge of the wings feature some fairly large flaps, which, in combination with the larger wing and leading edge devices help to lower the stalling speed of the Super Hornet to a more acceptable level for carrier operations, and short/improvised field operations for those countries who utilize F/A-18s but lack the sophisticated super carriers that the US has to base their dual role jets off of. The trailing edge flaps on the E/F model Hornets are a more sophisticated two panel arrangement then the simpler and slightly smaller arrangement on the legacy hornets.

When viewed from the back in a dirty configuration, the wing looks much larger than you would expect, and in many ways reminds me of the flap arrangements on some of Boeing’s other products, such as the 737. It appears that a modified slotted flap design is used, and certainly helps maintain airflow over the flap panels at low speeds and higher angles of attack.While we’re talking about the wing, it’s notable to mention that when viewed from head on, the external stores (weapons, fuel tanks, pylons, etc) are angled roughly 4 degrees outward from the aircraft’s centerline.

This is not an error in modeling however, rather how the real F/A-18E is equipped, as there were issues with stores colliding after release in some cases when the aircraft was originally tested with the straight pylons from the Legacy Hornets.The tail section of the Hornet is just as well done as the rest of the plane, and contains probably the most important piece of equipment on this aircraft, and a great source of pride to the men and women who fly her, the tail hook. In addition to the arrester hook that makes the carrier landings possible, the exhaust and afterburners for the twin afterburning turbines are located here, and modeled beautifully, the APU intakes and exhaust are present as well, and once again is an apparently perfect representation of the real McCoy. CAG ready to go on the NimitzNow a stunning visual model is important, however without a great set of skins the plane just doesn’t take on its full character. Dropping an MK-82 on the south side of the runway at a nearby airpark with the CCIP PipperAnother improvement that VRS made to FSX is the inclusion of air to air refueling! Unlike default FSX where the only aerial refueling you can get is from a 737 in a carrier landing mission, the ACM provides a utility to set parameters for tanker aircraft as well as some included ones for commonly used real world tankers (A330 MRTT, S-3 Viking, F/A-18E with buddy pods, parameters for the default A321, etc).X, Y, and Z coordinates for the center of the drogue (basket) are either provided or entered, as well as tolerances for breakaway once connected. Not only do the tankers gas up the Superbug, but they also provide a TACAN frequency to help pilots find a gas station in the sky.The last section I’ll put in here is the effects included with the Super Hornet. First and foremost (and my favorite) is the included vapor effects, which form vapor trails on the wingtips, as well as over the wings and LEX areas when pulling high g’s.

Additionally, a mach shockwave vapor cone is included, forming the famous vapor cone around the middle and tail of the plain intermittently in the transonic region.The afterburner effects are also incredible, with cones of blue/purple and orange plasma exploding out of the rear of the aircraft when the plane is in full blower. Max braking after touching down at show centerThe Hornet, like all fighter aircraft, is designed to be flown with a stick, preferably a HOTAS stick. Unfortunately I was unable to get my hands on a HOTAS system (I am awaiting the HOTAS Warthog’s release) for this review. I think this is important to mention because, while I had some trouble keeping rolling maneuvers crisp (especially at higher speeds), I also had the advantage of keeping lower speed maneuvers (especially around the carrier) looking good because of larger physical movements required to fly with a yoke.

Despite this part time handicap, I found the Hornet’s flight model to be top notch, doing everything I expected the aircraft to do and then some.Even with a yoke, I could not only mimic the Super Hornet’s Tactical Demonstrations, but I could also perform surface operations on the boat and on shore with relative ease (after some getting used to the handling and fly by wire differences), as well as employing all weapons provided in the pack (flying proper delivery and release profiles), and avoiding nearly all of what the ACM’s surface to air threats could throw at me. In some of the more violent three axis maneuvers, differing angles of attack of the wings got so high as to activate a spin recovery mode, where the MFDs tell you the inputs necessary to recover from your current predicament. Uh oh, spinning out of controlBeyond this, I am unsure of what to say without becoming redundant in saying that everything seems to fly as it should. Further information regarding the flight characteristics of the Hornet is best obtained from either the VRS manual, or the NATOPS manual.TestSystemComputer SpecsAlienware M17x4GB RAM1GB Nvidia 260M Graphics2.53 GHz Dual CoreFSX SP2 AccelerationFlyingTime:104 hoursSummary / Closing RemarksAs a real world civilian student pilot, flying the VRS Super Hornet left me with an even larger amount of respect for what the members of the armed forces do every day to allow me to spend my time prowling the real and virtual skies. The amount of systems modeling and programming put into this aircraft is second to none, and deserves the highest praise I could possibly give, an Avsim Gold Star Award.From the full startup procedure (and clearing the RIG caution) to banging down on the deck of the Nimitz I was fully engrossed in not only flying the aircraft, but also dealing with offensive and defensive threats, in depth failures, and trying to memorize dozens of key combinations. The VRS team paid such attention to detail that I feel that this model could probably be used as a desktop level simulator for procedures training for real world Hornet pilots.All in all I had a ton of fun flying and testing this aircraft, everything about it is top notch and goes above and beyond what is expected in FS add-ons, and will forever change my idea of what a high quality fully programmed aircraft really is.

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Due to the complexity of this package, there is no way I could have possibly covered every possible system and function, for that you can consult the manual.I did my best to provide a brief (though I would hardly consider a 5000+ word review brief) overview of some of the Bug’s functions and features, while providing extra detail and space where I thought appropriate. If you have any questions about the review or the aircraft feel free to visit the VRS website/forums or post in the review feedback section. I’ll do my best to get back with you ASAP! What I Like About F/A-18E Super Hornet. Extremely Detailed Model. Configuration Changes. Aircraft Configuration Manager (and all associated tools/functions).

He has published stories on subjects as diverse as brain-mapping and crash-test dummies. His work has appeared in numerous international publications, including Reader's Digest and the Guardian, and he has acted as science consultant or editor on many books.Brandon Broll trained as a research biologist before becoming a journalist specializing in science and medicine. Brandon broll microcosmos cover.

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WEAPONS!!!. Incredible Animations. Fly-By-Wire Programming. Great Variety of Included Liveries. High Fidelity Systems Programming. Challenging.

Great Manual. Detailed and thorough documentationWhatI Don't Like About F/A-18E Super Hornet. A bit heavy on frames, but that’s to be expected with something this detailed. Engine turbine intake fans do not spin while running. PrintingIf you wish to printthis review or read it offline at your leisure, right click on the linkbelow, and select 'save as'StandardDisclaimerThe review above is a subjective assessment of theproduct by the author. There is no connection between the producer andthe reviewer, and we feel this review is unbiased and truly reflects theperformance of the product in the simming environment.

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